A GROUNDING ATTACHMENT AND A POLE PROVIDED WITH SUCH A GROUNDING ATTACHMENT

Abstract

A grounding attachment for grounding an outer wall of a pole (13) made of a metal sheet covered on both sides by a coating layer of an electrically insulating material comprises a base element (1) of metal configured to be applied to bear on an inner wall of a pole in a state of use of the grounding attachment and at least one member (8, 9) of metal projecting from the base element and configured to be introduced into a hole in a wall of a pole in the state of use and to bear onto portions of the metal sheet defining the hole so as to establish an electrical contact thereto. The base element is provided with a connector member (4) enabling connection of the base element and by that the pole to ground.

Claims

1. A grounding attachment for grounding an outer wall of a pole accommodating or arranged in connection with at least one electrical component, such as for lightning purpose, and made of a metal sheet covered on both sides by a coating layer of an electrically insulating material, comprising: a base element (1) of metal configured to be applied to bear on an inner wall of the pole in a state of use of the grounding attachment, and at least one member (8, 9) of metal projecting from the base element and configured to be introduced into a hole (15) in a wall of the pole in said state of use and bear onto portions of the metal sheet defining the hole to establish an electrical contact thereto, and the base element (1) is provided with a connector member (4) configured to enable connection of the base element and the pole to ground.

2. A grounding attachment according to claim 1, wherein said projecting metal member (8, 9) is formed by material portions of the base element (1) flared out.

3. A grounding attachment according to claim 2, comprising a member (16, 17) configured to be inserted into said projecting member flared out for urging outer portions of the projecting member against said metal sheet portions defining said hole (15).

4. A grounding attachment according to claim 3, wherein said projecting metal member (8, 9) is configured to be introduced into the through-hole (15) of pole and the urging member (16, 17) is configured to be introduced from the outside of the pole into a hole (10, 11) of said projecting member formed by the flaring out.

5. A grounding attachment according to claim 3, wherein said urging member (16, 17) is configured to secure the base element (1) to the pole wall once introduced into the projecting metal member (8, 9).

6. A grounding attachment according to claim 4, wherein said urging member is a rivet (16, 17).

7. A grounding attachment according to claim 2, wherein said projecting metal member (8, 9) is conical with a cross-section tapering in the direction away from the base element (1).

8. A grounding attachment according to claim 2, wherein slits are cut in surrounding walls defining said projecting metal member.

9. A grounding attachment according to claim 1, wherein said connector member (4) is arranged on a second part (3) of the base element (1) bent away from a first part (2) of the base element configured to be applied to bear on an inner wall of a pole to separate the connector member from an internal wall of the pole in said state of use.

10. A grounding attachment according to claim 1, comprising at least two said members (8, 9) of metal projecting from the base element (1) and configured to be introduced into a respective hole (15) each in said pole wall.

11. A grounding attachment according to claim 1, wherein said base element (1) is provided with a hole (12) with an inner thread and the grounding attachment comprises a screw (18) to be introduced into the threaded hole through the hole (19) in the pole wall and be tightened for securing a lid covering an opening (14) in the pole wall to the pole.

12. A grounding attachment according to claim 1, configured to ground an outer wall of the pole made by a metal sheet covered on both sides by a decorative layer of paint or lacquer, such as a PRELAQ (trademark) sheet.

13. A pole accommodating or arranged in connection with at least one electrical component and made of a metal sheet covered on both sides by a coating layer of an electrically insulating material, and provided with a grounding attachment according to claim 1 configured to ground an outer wall of the pole.

14. A pole according to claim 13, which is a light post.

15. A grounding attachment according to claim 4, wherein said urging member (16, 17) is configured to secure the base element (1) to the pole wall once introduced into the projecting metal member (8, 9).

16. A grounding attachment according to claim 15, wherein said urging member is a rivet (16, 17).

17. A grounding attachment according to claim 5, wherein said urging member is a rivet (16, 17).

18. A grounding attachment according to claim 17, wherein said projecting metal member (8, 9) is conical with a cross-section tapering in the direction away from the base element (1).

19. A grounding attachment according to claim 16, wherein said projecting metal member (8, 9) is conical with a cross-section tapering in the direction away from the base element (1).

20. A grounding attachment according to claim 15, wherein said projecting metal member (8, 9) is conical with a cross-section tapering in the direction away from the base element (1).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] With reference to the appended drawings, below follows a specific description of an embodiment of the invention cited as an example.

[0022] In the drawings:

[0023] FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a base element of a grounding attachment according to an embodiment of the present invention,

[0024] FIG. 3 is a sectioned view of a part of a pole to which a grounding attachment according to said embodiment of the invention is attached, and

[0025] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the grounding attachment according to the present invention secured to a pole with a lid covering an opening in the pole wall removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0026] A grounding attachment for grounding an outer wall of a pole according to an embodiment of the invention will now be described while making reference simultaneously to FIGS. 1-4. The grounding attachment has a base element 1 of metal, i.e. a material being a good conductor of electricity, such as steel or any other metal material, and is shown alone in FIGS. 1 and 2. This base element 1 is plate-like and has a first part 2 configured to be applied to bear on an inner wall of a pole in a state of use of the grounding attachment and a second part 3 bent away from the first part so as to separate a connector member 4 configured to enable connection of the base element to ground from an internal wall of the pole in said state of use. The connector member 4 comprises a threaded hole 5 made in the second part 3 of the base element and intended to enable attachment of a ground clamp 6 through a screw 7 for connection thereof to a ground wire (see FIG. 4).

[0027] The first part 2 of the base element 1 has two members 8, 9 projecting therefrom and formed by material portions of the base element flared out so that these members are provided with a hole 10, 11. The projecting members 8, 9 are conical with a cross-section tapering in the direction away from the first part 2 of the base element. The first part 2 of the base element is also provided with a hole 12 with an inner thread.

[0028] The grounding attachment is intended to be connected to a pole 13 made of a metal sheet covered on both sides by a coating layer of an electrically insulating material through removal of a lid covering an opening 14 (see FIG. 4) in the wall of the pole. The pole is of the type accommodating or arranged in connection with at least one electrical component, such as for lightning purpose. The base element is moved while introducing the projecting members 8, 9 into a respective through-hole 15 in the wall of the pole 13 so that the first part 2 of the base element 1 will be applied to bear on an inner wall of the pole. Rivets 16, 17 will then be introduced from the outside of the pole into the holes 10, 11 of the projecting members 8, 9 so as to urge outer portions of the projecting members against metal sheet portions defining the respective through-hole 15 and then also secure the base element to the pole wall by riveting. A grounding wire not shown may then be connected to the ground clamp 6 of the connector member 4 for grounding the pole wall by the contact made by said outer portions of the projecting members 8, 9 with the metal sheet portions defining the through-hole 15. A lid not shown may then be secured through a screw 18 introduced into the threaded hole 12 in the base element through a further hole 19 in the pole wall for covering the opening 14.

[0029] The invention is of course not in any way restricted to the embodiment just described, but many possibilities to modifications thereof would be apparent to a person with skill in the art without for that sake departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

[0030] The projecting members may be provided with slits in the walls surrounding the opening thereof for making them more flexible and easier to expand and urge by an urging member, such as a rivet, to bear tightly against metal sheet portions defining a hole in a pole wall.

[0031] The presence of only one said projecting member is also possible for obtaining a reliable grounding function of the grounding attachment, although two or more such projecting members facilitates proper securing of the grounding attachment to the pole.

[0032] The projecting member has not to be formed by material portions of the base element flared out, although this is very advantageous, but it may be formed by a separate member of metal secured to the base element, such as by welding or even by engagement of threads or the like.